Crested and leopard gecko info

[Kanchii]

From my experience, leo's tend to be easier to handle for beginners than cresteds. Baby cresteds especially are likely to jump around, and the adults will too sometimes. Leo's are pretty slow, just kinda mosey around. They can be in a smaller, less furnished cage, a 10 gallon is perfect for them while you'd need something at least taller for cresteds. Downside of leo's is that they eat live food, mainly crickets and mealworms, where as cresteds mainly eat a sort of mush you buy the powder of and mix with water so you don't have to deal with feeder insects. They are both very cool pets.

 

[theOEGBman]

Madison.... I saw that demon Leo of yours bite you multiple times during our short day at the reptile show!

But I did get bitten by a crestie, so I cant say much.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks guys!

I'm not set on either one yet, but its fun to hear about them!

Jordan, I had to laugh when reading your post about the UTH. I was wondering why in the world you thought I would put it on the side of my tank and then I went back and read my post again. Haha, I feel like such an idiot sometimes. What I actually meant to write is on one side under the tank, but if I were to use paper towels for the bottom of the cage then there would definitely be a danger for them to get burned. I use to use one with my hermit crabs, but I was using gravel in the tank and the gravel would just get warm. With paper towels there wouldn't be much of a barrier between the pad and the geckos. I do have a desk lamp that gives off some heat, which might work. Its not enough to burn, but just enough to keep something warm.

Madison, What do you use in the bottom of the cage for your leos? Also, do they need a mix of crickets and meal worms or can they eat one or the other? I'm not squeamish about either one, but I know while I am home she would be much happier if I fed meal worms rather than crickets. I also have experience raising meal worms, so I could keep some alive for quite a few weeks. I do like that the crested have their own mix of food, but I am not opposed to feeding live. I would just have to make sure I won't get in trouble if crickets start making noise in my apartment!

How often do you feed your leos, Madison?

Thanks for all the help! I'll definitely add more questions as I think of them.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Also, just to add, I will definitely be getting another lid for my cage, but I wasn't sure if an all screen lid would be ok, or if it needed to be glass. I already have a locking screen lid at home that would work well, but it wouldn't be much good for keeping any humidity in the cage.

 

[Kanchii]

They get offered crickets every other day. I feed them off tongs so that they eat right when I offer. They are in my room so I don't want chirping crickets keeping me awake at night, hah. The mealworms I keep in their tank all the time in a shallow dish with about 10 of them in there with a little peice of carrot so that they squirm around and get the attention of the leos. The leos are kept on carpet liner.

LOL Leo yeah that one leo I held sure was a biter! But I bet it was never really held so I couldn't blame them.

 

[theOEGBman]

LOL, Lauren! Its ok. When I put my 20 gallon tank on its side, there was a UTH stuck on the side of it! It was previously used to house a corn snake and I didnt want to peel the UTH off. Im sure it would be ok on their feet because they can move, but I believe they absorb heat more from the top than from their stomachs.

Madison, I was just being a brat, LOL. I know she was just stressed from all of the movement. Im sure her bite hurt more than my Crestie, she was a whole lot bigger.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

At home I would definitely be able to use a heat lamp. Its just that at school they will get me for it. Pets aren't technically allowed, but they usually turn a blind eye to little things. However, there was a fire in one of the dorm years ago started by a heat lamp from a reptile cage, so they do crack down on those. I think I could probably use my desk lamp though and my room is usually about 70 degrees or so. I don't usually like it any cooler.

How long do you usually keep the heat on them and during what time of the day? Also, can their food be bought in pet stores, or does it have to be specially ordered?

Thanks for all of your help! I knew I could rely on you guys to answer my questions LOL

 

[Kanchii]

They're food can be bought from pet stores and you can use heat mats instead of lights no problem, just leave the heat mats on 24/7

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

When I was a little kid visiting my uncle we went to the beach in his old jeep. I found a really cool spotted gecko on the floorboards. Picked it up to show my uncle my new "leopard" gecko; it was half rotten.

 

[Kanchii]

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